Bomasuto makes Second Team All-American

June 6, 2013

Dunkirk alum Vinny Bomasuto, a sophomore at Monroe Community College, was named a NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American Wednesday.

"That's a good accomplishment, so I can be happy with that," Bomasuto said. "It means that you had a good year."

Bomasuto made the team as an outfielder after hitting .427 in 47 games, including leading the nation in triples with 18. The 18 triples were also a school record.

"I was more patient," Bomasuto said. "I knew I was going to see a lot more breaking balls than fastballs, so I just stayed back on the ball, drove it, and good things happened."

Bomasuto also played some infield and saw time on the hill for the Tribunes where he went 3-1 with two saves and finished with an ERA of 1.71 over 26-1/3 innings. He allowed five earned runs on 20 hits while striking out 18 and walking five. He was also on the mound when the Tribunes won the NJCAA Division II Region 3 title over Mercyhurst North East, 6-5.

"Last year, I felt like we didn't play as a team as much," Bomasuto said. "We had players this year, some returners and we had more chemistry. We wanted to win more."

Bomasuto credited his success on the mound this year to the work he did over the winter with his coach, Mike Kelley.

"He made some adjustments," Bomasuto said. "He got me to have the same motion (on the breaking ball) as I had on my fastball and that helped too. I threw the ball a little bit harder because I got a little bit stronger during the offseason. And my (fastball) tails naturally, so that's also good."

Bomasuto, who helped the Dunkirk Marauders reach the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B Final Four during his senior year in 2011, led MCC regulars in on-base percentage (.489), slugging percentage (.752, fifth in the nation) and OPS (1.241). He finished his sophomore season with a team-high 67 hits in 157 at-bats, including 12 doubles and a home run while adding 41 RBIs, 45 runs and 15 stolen bases.

Bomasuto's improvements might land him on a Major League Baseball team as the first-year player draft begins today. After the season ended, he and teammates A.J. Kehlenbeck and Brad Kaczka, were invited to take part in pre-draft workouts for the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins.

"The Reds (tryout) went pretty good," Bomasuto noted. "But I also faced players that were a lot better, so we'll see how that goes.

"The Twins tryout I did very good in," Bomasuto continued. "So hopefully the Twins will give me a call back. They said I had a very good arm and they also said I am a good opposite-field hitter and I can pull the ball."

As you can imagine, Bomasuto will be watching his phone the next few days in case he gets the call he has worked so hard to get.

"I'm a little nervous," Bomasuto said. "But if I don't (get drafted) I know I tried my best and I'll be going to school next year, so we'll see how that goes."

Even if he doesn't get drafted, which, given the amount of players available and the limited number of roster spots MLB teams have for their minor league teams is a distinct possibility, Bomasuto still has plans to continue playing.

"I'm going to work harder and work on things I should have done better and take it from there," Bomasuto said. "I've got a lot more in me. There's more to come."